Let Us Give Lewis Acid–Base Theory the Priority It DeservesAlan A. ShafferThe Lewis concept is simple yet powerful in its scope, and can be used to help beginning students understand reaction mechanisms more fully. However, traditional approaches to acid-base reactions at the introductory level ignores Lewis acid-base theory completely, focusing instead on proton transfer described by the Br?nsted-Lowry concept.Shaffer, Alan A. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1746.

Two "Gas-in-a-Bag" Reactions To Show the Predictive Power of the Relative AcidBase Strength ChartBrett CriswellDescribes a demonstration in which two different pairs of solid chemicals mixed in two different Ziploc bags in the presence of a small quantities of water react to produce gases. Students are informed that the reactions are BrnstedLowry acidbase type reactions and must determine which member in each pair will act as the acid and which as the base.Criswell, Brett. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1167.

Acids / Bases |

Aqueous Solution Chemistry |

Descriptive Chemistry |

Gases |

Reactions |

Brønsted-Lowry Acids / Bases

Unified Approximations: A New Approach for Monoprotic Weak Acid–Base EquilibriaHarry L. Pardue, Ihab N. Odeh, and Teweldemedhin M. TesfaiThis article describes a new approach to approximate calculations for monoprotic acidbase equilibria in otherwise pure water. The new approach, identified herein as unified approximations, uses a simple decision criterion to select between situations that should be treated as deprotonation and protonation reactions. The remaining treatment takes account of changes in concentrations of conjugate acidbase pairs for all situations and ignores autoprotolysis only for situations for which the analytical concentration of either the conjugate acid or conjugate base will always be larger than zero. Pardue, Harry L.; Odeh, Ihab N.; Tesfai, Teweldemedhin M. J. Chem. Educ.2004, 81, 1367.

Acids / Bases |

Equilibrium |

Chemometrics

The Relative Acidities of Water and MethanolHenry I. AbrashAnalysis of the disparity between the way the acidity constant of water is presented in general chemistry and organic chemistry textbooks.Abrash, Henry I. J. Chem. Educ.2001, 78, 1496.

Acids and Bases in Layers: The Stratal Structure of an Ancient TopicWobbe de Vos and Albert PilotThis article identifies and discusses six successive "layers" that can be recognized in chapters on acids and bases in general chemistry textbooks, each the result of what once was a modernization; the cumulative result of these layers has become problematic, and some learning problems that students have when studying acids and bases become comprehensible when viewed from this perspective. de Vos, Wobbe; Pilot, Albert. J. Chem. Educ.2001, 78, 494.

Acids / Bases |

Learning Theories |

Lewis Acids / Bases |

Brønsted-Lowry Acids / Bases

Two Faces of AlkaloidsJirí DostálThe article discusses and compares the salts and free bases of six well-known alkaloids: nicotine, morphine, cocaine, sanguinarine, allocryptopine, and magnoflorine. Relevance for the biological and medical uses of these compounds is emphasized. Dostál, Jirí. J. Chem. Educ.2000, 77, 993.

Acids / Bases |

Bioorganic Chemistry |

Drugs / Pharmaceuticals |

Natural Products |

Aromatic Compounds |

Medicinal Chemistry

Weak vs Strong Acids and Bases: The Football AnalogyTodd P. SilversteinA football analogy for acids and bases in which acids are compared to quarterbacks, whose job is to get rid of the ball (H+). A strong acid, like an excellent quarterback, delivers the ball effectively; a weak acid, like a poor quarterback, is often left holding the ball. Furthermore, bases may be likened to wide receivers, whose job is to catch and hold onto the ball (H+). Silverstein, Todd P. J. Chem. Educ.2000, 77, 849.

Acids / Bases |

Aqueous Solution Chemistry |

Water / Water Chemistry |

Brønsted-Lowry Acids / Bases

Do pH in Your HeadAddison AultEvery aqueous solution has a pH. Two factors determine this pH: the acidic or basic strength of the solute, and its concentration. When you use pKa values to express acidic and basic strength you can easily estimate the approximate pH of many aqueous solutions of acids, bases, and their salts and their buffers.Ault, Addison. J. Chem. Educ.1999, 76, 936.

Equilibrium |

Acids / Bases |

Aqueous Solution Chemistry |

Learning Theories |

Chemometrics |

Brønsted-Lowry Acids / Bases

Arrhenius confuses students.Hawkes, Stephen J.An acid is a substance from which a proton can be removed; protons are not "donated".Hawkes, Stephen J. J. Chem. Educ.1992, 69, 542.

Why teach solution equilibrium?Butler, James N.What are the most important aspects of solution equilibrium to teach at the elementary level?Butler, James N. J. Chem. Educ.1984, 61, 784.

Equilibrium |

Solutions / Solvents |

Acids / Bases |

pH

An analogy for the leveling effectMacomber, Roger S.Analogy to help students understand the leveling effect of certain solvents.Macomber, Roger S. J. Chem. Educ.1984, 61, 128.

Acids / Bases |

Aqueous Solution Chemistry |

Solutions / Solvents |

Brønsted-Lowry Acids / Bases

A physical model to demonstrate acid-base conjugate pairsNaylor, Robert W.There seems to be a great deal of confusion among students over the relationship of the strength of a conjugate acid or base to its respective precursor. Using magnets, an extremely simple method of demonstrating that weak acids give strong bases and vice versa can be easily performed.Naylor, Robert W. J. Chem. Educ.1981, 58, 1017.

Acids / Bases

Red cabbage and the electrolysis of waterSkinner, James F.The demonstration profiled here has proven effective in bringing together concepts from acid-base chemistry and electrochemistry.Skinner, James F. J. Chem. Educ.1981, 58, 1017.

Electrochemistry |

Water / Water Chemistry |

Acids / Bases

Red cabbage and the electrolysis of waterSkinner, James F.The demonstration profiled here has proven effective in bringing together concepts from acid-base chemistry and electrochemistry.Skinner, James F. J. Chem. Educ.1981, 58, 1017.

Electrochemistry |

Water / Water Chemistry |

Acids / Bases

The "chemical fountain": An old experiment in a new settingBen-Zvi, Ruth; Silberstein, JudithA new teaching sequence was developed for an introductory high school chemistry course. In this teaching sequence experiments are designed so as to capture student interest, enhance their motivation, and get them involved in the learning process.Ben-Zvi, Ruth; Silberstein, Judith J. Chem. Educ.1981, 58, 68.

Demonstrations for high school chemistryCastka, Joseph F.A sequence of demonstrations that may serve to initiate and maintain student interest in the development of acid-base theories and bond strength.Castka, Joseph F. J. Chem. Educ.1975, 52, 394.

Conjugate acid-base and redox theoryPacer, Richard A.Consideration of relative oxidizing / reducing strength would be greatly facilitated if this topic were presented in terms of transfer of one or more electrons between members of a conjugate redox pair.Pacer, Richard A. J. Chem. Educ.1973, 50, 178.